Topsail May 31, 2007
Chris, of East Coast Sports, reports that spanish mackerel are providing fast action for pier anglers. Plenty of bluefish are mixed in with the spanish mackerel, and both will strike Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs. The pier bottom fishermen are catching pompano, and the spring spot run is beginning as well.
Surf fishermen are catching whiting and red drum at the north end of the island. Near the old Barnacle Bill’s pier, one fisherman had a solid catch of black drum and sheepshead on sand fleas. And a few black drum are still coming from the surf at the north end of Lee Island.
Inshore, there are plenty of red drum feeding around oyster rocks in the marshes and ICW. On incoming tides, bluefish are feeding heavily in the inlets.
Nearshore, good numbers of spanish mackerel are running along the beachfront. Some boats are limiting out on the spanish. Cobia and smaller kings are also feeding near the beach.
At 23 Mile Rock, anglers are catching piles of snake kings and some bigger dolphin.
Brent, of “Speck”tacular Inshore Charters, reports that the hot weather has New River trout fishing slowing down a bit. Anglers are still finding some nice fish in the 5-6 lb. class, but the majority of the trout are now schoolies from14-18”. For the best possible trout baits, net live shrimp in area creeks. Storm Wildeye Shrimp and Berkley Powerbait Shrimp are good lures when live bait is unavailable.
Flounder are biting well in the ICW and beneath the Sneads Ferry Bridge. Fish live mud minnows or finger mullet for the best chances of boating some flounder.
Black drum are also holding underneath the Sneads Ferry Bridge, and anglers are catching them (up to 4 lbs.) by fishing fresh cut shrimp and clams on bottom rigs.
Red drum are feeding in the surf and underneath docks in the ICW. Shad style jerk baits will draw strikes from the dock fish, while the larger reds in the surf show a preference for cut baits.
Nearshore, there are good numbers of spanish mackerel and cobia cruising the beach and structure just offshore. Anglers can locate spanish by trolling Clark spoons, but they can also get bites by casting glass minnow-imitating Mirrolures and other plugs. The cobia will hit the plugs, as well as a wide variety of natural baits and artificials.
The artificial reefs are holding small king mackerel, and boats are hooking up with the kings by trolling live baits and dead cigar minnows.
Eric, of New River Marina, reports that flounder are now around, but they have not been feeding hard.
Plenty of larger pogies have taken up residence in New River, which should be good news for king mackerel anglers. The kings are stacked up at Christmas Rock.
Bottom fishing has been productive recently, with good catches of snapper and red, gag, and scamp grouper coming from as close as 12 miles off the beach. Spanish sardines and butterfly jigs have both been effective on the grouper and snapper.
Gulf Stream anglers are still finding wahoo and tuna mixed in with numerous dolphin. Several blue marlin have been released lately as well. The hottest blue water action has taken place between the Swansboro Hole and the Big Rock
Vinita, at Surf City Pier, reports that anglers are catching good numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel on diamond jigs. One lucky angler also landed a 25.5” puppy drum on a diamond jig last week.
The pier’s first king of 2007, at 15 lbs., was caught on a live bluefish last week.
The bottom fishing has been fair, with anglers landing black drum, pompano, spot, whiting, and a few flounder. Anglers fishing with shrimp have had the best results.
Wayne, of Sea View Pier, reports that whiting and pompano are both hitting shrimp on the bottom.
Anglers are catching a few flounder on live baits.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are biting Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs.
Chopper bluefish are biting live baits fished on the end of the pier, and a few kings were caught over the week as well. The largest king caught last week was 22.5 lbs.
Tom, of Hot Tuna Charters, reports good catches of red, gag, and black grouper (as well as red snapper) coming from around 140’ of water. Boston mackerel make the most effective bottom baits, as they stay on the hook better than other baits.
King mackerel are around 12 miles from shore, and they’re falling for lures trolled deep on wire line rigs.
